Random News: April 2, 2023

DISCLAIMER: Zak's Random News is very random and doesn't cover many things, and not everything may be accurate, because I'm just some guy. Go find a real news source.

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Good morning. It’s April 2, 2023, and it’s a Sunday. I’m drinking coffee in a robe and you’re not… I think. Let’s see what’s going on…

• Again, as mentioned yesterday, wishing the best to those affected by the swath of tornadoes over the past couple of days. It’s almost certain that climate change will continue to cause increases in the severity of weather events each passing year.
• Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has announced that he’s running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, launching a challenge to former president and current alleged felon Donald Trump. 
• Asa Hutchinson has as much chance of being nominated as I do. But you do your thing, man.
• Another huge batch of shootings over this weekend. Like, it’s insane. Why would anyone in their right mind want to visit this country where gun violence happens multiple times every day?
• Three dead in an OKC bar. One dead in a Trader Joe’s parking lot in LA. One in St. Louis. Where else? Wichita. Louisville. Indy. New Orleans. Columbus. Baltimore. Birmingham. On the outskirts of El Paso. I mean, it’s everywhere, all the time.
• Here’s some childish shit. 
• Today, Twitter removed the “verified” badge from the New York Times’ main account on the platform. Elon made the move after learning that the news organization would not pay for its Twitter Blue service.
• But nearly all news organizations from CNN to the Wall Street Journal and many others have already publicly announced they have no intention of paying Elon a penny.
• Twitter will be diving even deeper into its status as an online cesspool of utter filth as more and more people/bots impersonate these news organizations to purposefully spread misinformation.
• And now, The Weather: “Paris, Texas” by Lana Del Rey
• Just a heads-up that more severe weather is supposed to hit the middle of the country this week on Tuesday. Make a note.
• RIP to a great composer. Ryuichi Sakamoto won an Oscar as well as two Golden Globes, a Grammy and a BAFTA for his work on more than 40 films, including 'The Last Emperor,' 'Merry Christmas,' 'Mr. Lawrence' and 'The Revenant.'
• Brilliant musician. He was also an actor and singer, and longtime political activist. He leaves us at age 71.
• From the Sports Desk… Monday’s men’s NCAA championship will be between San Diego State (5) and UConn (4). SDSU won their game against FAU in dramatic fashion with a last -second buzzer beater, final score 72-71.
• Today in history… Having spotted land on March 27, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León comes ashore on what is now the U.S. state of Florida (1513). The Coinage Act is passed by Congress, establishing the United States Mint (1792). Ludwig van Beethoven leads the premiere of his First Symphony in Vienna (1800). "Electric Theatre", the first full-time movie theater in the United States, opens in Los Angeles (1902). After the mysterious death of Empress Zewditu, Haile Selassie is proclaimed emperor of Ethiopia (1930). Launch of the LexisNexis computerized legal research service (1973). Argentina invades the Falkland Islands (1982). Rita Johnston becomes the first female Premier of a Canadian province when she succeeds William Vander Zalm as Premier of British Columbia (1991). The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reach one million (2020). 
• April 2 is the birthday of Frankish king Charlemagne (747), novelist Hans Christian Andersen (1805), novelist Émile Zola (1840), businessman Walter Chrysler (1875), painter/sculptor Max Ernst (1891), actor Buddy Ebsen (1908), actor Alec Guinness (1914), actor/producer Jack Webb (1920), singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye (1939), radio host Dr. Demento (1941), singer-songwriter/pianist Leon Russell (1942), guitarist Larry Coryell (1943), MLB player Don Sutton (1945), singer-songwriter Emmylou Harris (1947), actor Christopher Meloni (1961), and actor Pedro Pascal (1975). 

I’m still chilling in the calm before the storm of my upcoming business events. But all will be fine. I mean, not for everyone, and definitely not all the time. But for now and for me. Enjoy your day.